Between the final tashahhud and the salaam at the end of every prayer, the Prophet ﷺ would seek refuge in Allah from four specific things — and he ﷺ commanded his companions to do the same. Aisha (RA) said: 'I heard the Messenger of Allah ﷺ seeking refuge from these four in his prayer.' Abu Hurayrah (RA) reported the Prophet ﷺ said it should be recited 'when one of you finishes the last tashahhud'.
The dua before salaam — protection from four things
اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنْ عَذَابِ الْقَبْرِ، وَمِنْ عَذَابِ النَّارِ، وَمِنْ فِتْنَةِ الْمَحْيَا وَالْمَمَاتِ، وَمِنْ شَرِّ فِتْنَةِ الْمَسِيحِ الدَّجَّالِ
Allahumma inni a'udhu bika min 'adhabil-qabr, wa min 'adhabin-nar, wa min fitnatil-mahya wal-mamat, wa min sharri fitnatil-Masihid-Dajjal.
O Allah, I seek refuge in You from the punishment of the grave, from the punishment of the Fire, from the trials of life and death, and from the evil of the trial of the False Messiah (Dajjal).
(Sahih al-Bukhari 1377 / Sahih Muslim 588 — narrated by Abu Hurayrah (RA))
The four refuges explained
- 'Adhab al-qabr — the punishment of the grave: a real torment for those who die without faith or repentance.
- 'Adhab an-nar — the punishment of the Fire: the eternal consequence of disbelief and unrepented major sin.
- Fitnat al-mahya wal-mamat — the trials of life (wealth, poverty, family, fame) and the moment of death itself (whether one departs upon faith).
- Fitnat al-Masih ad-Dajjal — the False Messiah, whom the Prophet ﷺ said is the greatest trial that will come upon humanity before the Day of Judgement.
When and how to recite it
Sit in the final tashahhud, recite the tashahhud (At-tahiyyatu lillahi…), send salawat on the Prophet ﷺ (Allahumma salli 'ala Muhammad…), then recite this dua of protection — then make the salaam to the right and left to end the prayer. This applies to every fard prayer and every Sunnah/nafl prayer.
A second beautiful dua at the same place
The Prophet ﷺ also taught Abu Bakr (RA) a personal dua to recite at the same place: 'Allahumma inni zalamtu nafsi zulman kathiran, wa la yaghfirudh-dhunuba illa Anta, faghfir li maghfiratan min 'indika warhamni — innaka Antal-Ghafurur-Rahim' (Sahih al-Bukhari 834). Combine the two for full protection and full forgiveness in every prayer.
Hadith reference
The dua is in Sahih al-Bukhari (1377) and Sahih Muslim (588) on the authority of Abu Hurayrah (RA) — and confirmed by Aisha (RA) in many other narrations. Abu Bakr's (RA) personal dua is in Sahih al-Bukhari (834). Both are universally taught as part of the Sunnah of every prayer.